Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-06-04
sHORTtHORN CATTLE.
The Qualities and Characteristics ofAmer
 ican Pedigree Shorthorns.

The number of breeders of thorough bred pedigree Shorthorns in the United States, its Territories, and Canada can be safely estimated at full four thous- and, with herds of half dozen to sew al scores of cattle each. They extend all over North America between the Atlantic and Pacific shores. and to the lower southern States, Texas, and New Mexico, wherever climate and soil are suitable and proper forage is produced for their stistenance, and in numbers too large for accurate estimate. AL though considerable numbers of other good fesh-producing breeds for several years past have been imported from abroad and successfully bred, chiefly in the western States, in competition with the Shorthorns, the demand for Shorthorn bulls is greatka: tffan that for all 0tner breeds, to cross1upon and e1e- vate the quality of common cattle, not in their own localities, but also for the extensive grazing ranches of the farther West, to improve the beef quality of the coarse boyines long existing there. Many hundreds of young Shorthorn bulls are annually taken to the ranches for breeding purposes.
 When not fatted to excess, it is distri- buted all over the carcass, finely mar bled in combin ation of fat and lean. They mature to profitable slaughter as veal calves at six or eight weeks old of equal supplies of milk from the udders of their dams. The steers at two and a half years old, when properly fed, at tain live weight of 1,500 tod ,600 pounds, and are ripe for the shambles. At three to three and half years they attain live weight of even 2,0O0 pounds, after which longer feeding is seldom profitable. The American ex- ports to Europe-Great Britain chiefly for the six months of the year 1885 of live bullocks was more than 82, 1000 head, aside from the largely increased weight of dead carcasses in quarters of fresh beef, almost exclusively of Short horn blood, the quality most salable in foreign markets The best beef for con- sumption in our American cities and towns is also of Shorthorn blood, and commands price considerably above that of common cattle.
 For longevity and hardihood in all climates where used they are remark able in both sexes. Numerous bulls both in England and America might be named which have continued successful sires to twelve. fifteen, and even more years of age. The American bull, Baron of Oxford 2525, bred by Mir. Becor on Long Island, one of the most successful sires, maintained his vigor until nearly fourteen years old, when 8 fatal acci- dent befell him.
 The COWS, as milkers, when bred and educated for thei dairy. havel Proyet equal to any other breeds, their docliit!l of dispo A-Ic,n ss"f lymphatic tempera ment highly promoting uuelr iactea product. In England from their earli est days large numbers of them hay. proved extraordinary milkefs and but ter yielders, and in the metropolitan dairies for milk supply, as well as or farms for cheese and butter production, they are extensively used. In their ear Her importations to America; the COWS as a rule, were abundant milkers. a many now continue to be; but theil early and rapid tendency to flesh, mor' particularly in the western beef-pro ducing States, has led to neglect o their dairy qualities, butter and cheese production there being less followed than in many other localities. Yet il thoroughbreds, or high grades from na tive cows, they are largely bred and kept for dairy use in many of ou States, and profitable through life ol average pasture in summer and whole some keep in the colder months. Man, cows might be named as continuing constant breeders and large milkers un til fifteen, even twenty, years old, an' fatted into profitable carcasses of bee
 at the end.-Leuis 7. Allen, in Harp
 er's Magazine for September.